CHAMBER NEWS
Prestige clients flock to silk blooms for floral displays Prestige clients are flocking to Dunbartonshire chamber member, Silk Blooms for its upmarket, customised artificial flower displays. Estée Lauder, Givenchy, Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Disney have all used the Bishopbriggs-based company’s products. The Jo Malone brand, part of Estée Lauder, has a monthly order which is shipped all over the world, including to St. Petersburg in Russia, as well as to London, Edinburgh and Manchester in the UK. Company director, David McDaid, explains: “They are always looking for floral arrangements and always have a very specific theme for the month. We are able to replicate any floral arrangement from a photograph or brief. “We can Pantone®colour match the flowers. They send us photos with a description on what’s required – in August it was mimosa displays in ginger vases which proved to be a challenge.” Harrods’ buyer was so impressed by the quality of the displays that they recommended them to colleagues and friends. They are now looking for more flowers for the store’s basement rooms and for the consoles outside the elevator doors. Harvey Nichols also has an account with Silk Blooms – they use each set of display flowers for around five months and then replenish them with new, seasonal arrangements. Disney didn’t even approach the firm but simply placed a large order for Silk Blooms’ turquoise/jade coloured orchids via its website. David commented:” I’m pretty sure we’ll be the only company selling these – it’s because we colour match – you simply can’t buy these colours elsewhere. “Colour matching is definitely our USP and just having these unusual flowers on our website is getting us found on Google searches. “Companies can match their logo, their décor or even their individual products at point of sale.” The company, which has only been in business for three years, recently won the award for Best Use of E-Commerce at the East Dunbartonshire Business Awards. David and partner, Mara Rose Naismith, originally worked from home after setting up
in 2012 but moved to commercial premises when the business expanded.
durability means we’re able to be far more creative with them.
“We specialise in modern and bespoke floral displays made from premium artificial flowers. We don’t use the cheap silk flowers that people stigmatise.
“One of the main advantages though, is that you can put our displays in rooms where fresh flowers would never survive. Fresh tulips or gerberas for example would only last hours in artificial lighting.
“We provide superior displays which often look nicer than real flowers and the advantages are really clear. “They save money on fresh flowers as they will not wilt or die, they last and last and don’t need watered or trimmed. Their
“Our displays are popular with designer boutiques and department stores – they’re also fantastic for hotels, spas and restaurants too.” www. silkblooms.co.uk
Business Scotland
95